ANTIFUNGAL COMPOSITION

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field concerning the control of peronospora and oidium. Said antifungal composition is particularly recommended for fighting diseases caused by: Plasmopara viticola, Phytophthora infestans, Bremia latucae, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Peronospora destructor, Podosphaera xantii, Golovinomyces fuliginea, Erysiphe polyphaga, Erysiphe oronti, Spheraerotheca fuliginea, Leveillula taurica, Oidium lycopersicum, Erysiphe sp, Botritys cinerea, Venturia inaequalis, Antrachnose of grapes, Phomopsis sp., Podosphaera leucotricha, Oidium farinosum, Uncinula necator, grape black rot and Pseudomonas syringae in the cultivation of actinidia, in crops in general, in horticultural, fruit and agricultural crops in general, in vegetable and garden plants and in agricultural soils.

[0002] Said antifungal composition may be used in the field of agriculture, in the hobby industry, in vegetable plants, in gardens, in nurseries, and, in general, in any place where there may be the development of a plant disease caused by protists belonging not only to the Peronospora genus, but also to other genera both in the family Peronosporaceae and in the family Pythiaceae and Oidium sp.

[0003] In particular, it relates to an antifungal composition obtained from a natural chestnut extract based on water-extracted hydrolysed ellagitannins.

[0004] There are many known substances and formulations having antifungal action, mainly based on synthetic chemicals, such as strobilurins, dithiocarbamates or copper salts. Synthetic chemical-based products are toxic, dangerous and environmentally polluting; copper salt-based products have the drawback that they bring into the soil high amounts of polluting copper metal; furthermore, they bring high amounts of copper, which may cause "burns" and phytotoxicity in the treated plants.

[0005] The following prior literature documents:

• Cassandra L. Quave ET AL: "Castanea sativa (European Chestnut) Leaf Extracts Rich in Ursene and Oleanene Derivatives Block Staphylococcus aureus Virulence and Pathogenesis without Detectable Resistance", PLOS ONE, vol. 10, no. 8, 21 August 2015 (2015-08-21), page e0136486, XP55364232, DOl: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136486;
• Nevena Grdovic ET AL: "The protective effect of a mix of Lactarius deterrimus and Castanea sativa extracts on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress and pancreatic [beta]-cell death", British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 108, no. 07, 20 December 2011 (2011-12-20), pages 1163-1176, XP55364246, UK, ISSN: 0007-1145, DOl: 10.1017/S0007114511006702;
• Alberto Chiarini ET AL: "Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) Bark Extract: Cardiovascular Activity and Myocyte Protection against Oxidative Damage", Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2013, 1 January 2013 (2013-01-01), pages 1-10, XP55144897;
• Matteo Micucci: "From folk[e] medicine to medicinal chemistry: Study, using in vitro and cellular assays, of receptors mechanisms involved in the activities of natural compounds", Tesi di Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Chimiche Ciclo XXIV, 1 January 2012 (2012-01-01), pages 1-119, XP55364535, Bologna, Italy, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/4741/1/Matteo_Micucci_tesi.pdf [retrieved on 2017-04-13]
• COMANDINI PATRIZIA ET AL: "Tannin analysis of chestnut bark samples (Castanea sativaMill.) by HPLC-DAD", FOOD CHEMISTRY, vol. 157, pages 290-295, XP028833499, ISSN: 0308-8146, DOl: 10.1016/ J.FOODCHEM.2014.02.003;
• PENG S ET AL: "Insoluble ellagitannins in Castanea sativa and Quercus petraea woods", PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PERGAMON PRESS, GB, vol. 30, no. 3,1 January 1991 (1991-01-01), pages 775-778, XP026632235, ISSN:0031-9422, DOl: 10.1 016/0031-9422(91)85250-4 [retrieved on 1991-01-01] Form IT237-3 (separate sheet) (July 2008) (sheet t);
• TANG H R ET AL: "Studies of vegetable tannins. Complete structural determination of two chestnut tannins- vescalagin and castalagin using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods", Journal of the society of leather technologists and chemists, GB, vol. 79, 1 January 1995 (1995-01-01), pages 181-187, XP008054822, ISSN: 0144-0322;
• WO 2009/114810 A2 (FLORIDA INTERNAT UINVERSITY BO [US]; MATHEE KALAI [US]; ADONIZIO ALLIS) 17 September 2009 (2009-09-17);
• Lillian Barros ET AL: "Characterization of phenolic compounds in wild medicinal flowers from Portugal by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and evaluation of antifungal properties", INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS., vol. 44, 1 January 2013 (2013-01-01), pages 104-110, XP55364252, NL, ISSN: 0926-6690, DOl: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.11.003;

disclose an antifungal composition comprising tannin extract from Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family.

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to provide an antifungal composition based on water-extracted plant tannins. Said formulation turns out to be stable in a completely water-soluble powder formulation, free of any chemical residues. In addition to fighting Peronospora, the formulation brings several well-known effects and benefits arising from the application of tannings in the agricultural industry, e.g., it improves crop yield and quality, promotes plants' resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, improves the efficiency of plant protection agents and fertilisers, is a natural source of soluble organic carbon, enables pH correction in plants and soils, acts on the nitrogen cycle and improves plant nitrogen recovery, and reduces the need for chemical composts, does not pollute soil, water and ecosystem.

[0007] This innovative product is for use, both domestic and civil, on plants and soils, as an antifungal, antimildew, anti-peronospora, green corrective, strengthening composition in vegetable garden plants, meadows, gardens and nurseries.

[0008] Tannins are the product of plant secondary metabolism, and consist of water-soluble molecules having different molecular weights; they have been classified for the first time by Freudemberg, in 1922, based on their structural features as follows.

• Hydrolysable tannins: defined in this way because they hydrolyse into glucose and into ellagic or gallic acid in the presence of strong acids. Thus, there are gallotannins and ellagitannins. The former are extracted from galls (Quercus infectoria and Rhus semialata), from sumac fruits (Rhus coriaria) and from tara (Caesalpinia spinosa). Ellagitannins, instead, are present in oak wood (Quercus robur, Quercus petraea and Quercus alba), in chestnut wood (Castanea sativa) and in cherry plum wood (Terminalia chebula).
• Condensed tannins: they have a reduced astringent power and are further divided into proanthocyanidins and profisetinidins. Tannins that are naturally present in grapes are the proanthocyanidin ones, which comprise different flavonoid molecules that release anthocyanins and other insoluble compounds, when subjected to acid hydrolysis. They are mainly present in the skins and seeds of grapes, and therefore you can find them in red wines. Instead, profisetinidin tannins are extracted from quebracho wood (Schinopsis lorentzii) and mimosa (Acacia mollissima).

[0009] The tannins in the present patent are Hydrolysable Tannins, i.e., high molecular weight substances mainly consisting of water-soluble polyphenols having protein precipitation capacity as their main chemical prerogative. They are plant extracts from Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family.

[0010] The method of extracting hydrolysable tannins from the bark of Castanea Sativa Miller and, in general, from those plants containing them, is known in the art, and is not an object of the present patent.

[0011] This specific water-soluble powder formulation allows the active ingredients contained in the plant extract to be readily active and to act in synergy in the fight against peronospora.

[0012] The antifungal composition product of the present invention may include a non-ionic surfactant selected from polyoxyethylated alkylphenols, dioctylsulphosuccinates, alkylphenols, polyoxyethylated sorbitan monoesters, sorbitan monooleates, polyoxyethylated fats or aryl-alkyl alcohols, fatty acids and esters of fatty acids.

[0013] The antifungal composition product of the present invention may include an anionic emulsifier selected from alkylsulfonates, alkyl-aryl and aryl sulphates, phosphates, amine salts of alkyl phosphates, sulphosuccinates, polycarboxylates.

[0014] The antifungal composition of the present invention may include a cationic emulsifier selected from quaternary ammonium salts and primary, secondary and tertiary amine salts, amphoteric emulsifiers in their zwitterionic or mono ionic forms.

[0015] The antifungal composition of the present invention may include inerts such as sands, zeolites, clays, sepiolites, carbonates, gypsa, kaolins, flours obtained by grinding cereals or any part of the plants.

[0016] The antifungal composition of the present invention may include other products such as extracts of algae and alginates, extracts of basic amino acids in the L or R or racemic form; peptides of animal or vegetable origin, humic acids, fulvic acids, extracts from leonardite; molecules such as: N-acetyl-L-thiazolidin-4-carboxylic acid, macro nutrients and/or micro elements such as: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Sulphur, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Aluminium, Boron, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iodine and Molybdenum, in any chemical form, alone or in combination with each other and in quantities that are variable and suitable to the particular need of the plant, of the crop or ground.

[0017] The antifungal composition includes or may include acidifying agents, pH regulators, antioxidants, bactericides, anti-fermenting agents, or the like, to improve the chemical stability of the formulation.

EXAMPLE 1

[0018] According to a formulation (F1), the antifungal composition of the present invention includes the components as shown in Table 1. The amount of each component is expressed as a weight/weight percentage:

No.	Table 1	Amount
	Component	in weight/weig ht %
1	TANNIN EXTRACT	100.0
	Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family.
	Features:
	Ellagitannin contents on dry matter basis Minimum 75 %
	Maximum Humidity 8 %
	pH (sol. 10 %) 3.20 - 3.80
	Ashes Max. 1.80 %

[0019] For the preparation of this first formulation for use, the following operations are carried out:

• Dissolve the product in water by gently stirring, at a dose of 300-700 grams/hectolitre (corresponding to a concentration of 0.3-0.7%), depending on the intensity of the infection.
• The mixture thus obtained is sprayed on the leaves and on every part of the infested plant by means of usual atomisers for professional or hobby use. Its use may be both preventive (prior to the fungus infection) and in the presence of the mold caused by the parasite.

EXAMPLE 2

[0020] In a second formulation (F2), the antifungal composition differs from the one of the first formulation (F1) in that it includes the components as shown in Table 2. The amount of each component is expressed as a weight/weight percentage:

No.	Table 2	Amount
	Component	in weight/weight %
1	TANNIN EXTRACT	87.2
	Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family.
	Features:
	Ellagitannin contents on dry matter basis Minimum 75 %
	Maximum Humidity 8 %
	pH (sol. 10 %) 3.20 - 3.80
	Ashes Maximum 1.80 %
2	Mn SO4 * H2O	1.5
	Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate
	(CAS Number 10034-96-5)
3	Zinc Oxide 99%	5.3
	(CAS Number 1314-13-2)
4	Citric Acid	6.0
	(CAS Number 77-92-9)

[0021] The method for obtaining the second formulation (F2) of the antifungal composition is as follows:

• Add the components in the order as reported in the table and accurately mix them by means of a specific powder mixer.

For the preparation of this formulation for use, the following operations are carried out:

• Dissolve the product in water by gently stirring, at a dose of 300-700 grams/hectolitre (corresponding to a concentration of 0.3-0.7%), depending on the intensity of the infection.

[0022] The mixture thus obtained is sprayed on the leaves and on every part of the infested plant by means of usual atomisers for professional or hobby use. Its use may be both preventive (prior to the fungus infection) and in the presence of the mold caused by the parasite.

EXAMPLE 3

[0023] In a third formulation (F3), the antifungal composition differs from the one of the second formulation (F2) in that it includes the components as shown in Table 3. The amount of each component is expressed as a weight/weight percentage:

No.	Table 3	Amount
	Components	in weight/weight %
1	TANNIN EXTRACT	87.2
	Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family.
	Features:
	Ellagitannin contents on dry matter basis Minimum 75 %
	Maximum Humidity 8 %
	pH (sol. 10 %) 3.20 - 3.80
	Ashes Maximum 1.80 %
2	Chitosan	5.0
	(CAS Number 9012-76-4)
3	Citric Acid	7.8
	(CAS Number 77-92-9)

[0024] The method for obtaining the antifungal composition is as follows:

• Add the components in the order as reported in the table and accurately mix them by means of a specific powder mixer.

[0025] For the preparation of this formulation for use, the following operations are carried out:

• Dissolve the product in water by gently stirring, at a dose of 300-700 grams/hectolitre (corresponding to a concentration of 0.3-0.7%) depending on the intensity of the infection.
• The mixture thus obtained is sprayed on the leaves and on every part of the infested plant by means of usual atomisers for professional or hobby use. Its use may be both preventive (prior to the fungus infection) and in the presence of the mold caused by the parasite.

[0026] The formulations (F1), (F2) and (F3) of the present invention may also be dissolved in water or dispersed in an organic solvent to obtain: in the first case, a solution of tannins dissolved in water (F1) comprising or not comprising inorganic salts and/or Chitosan (F2) and (F3). In the second case, a suspension in an organic solvent (F1), (F2) and (F3) which may be an alcohol, a naphtha, a vegetable oil, a mineral oil.

[0027] The formulations (F1), (F2) and (F3) of the present invention were tested by means of the official control tests according to the Manual on development and use of FAO and WHO specifications for pesticides. The tests carried out were the following: test on active ingredient contents, test on humidity contents by analysing the weight loss in a stove at 54°C, sieving and heat and cold accelerated aging test. The positive results of the above-listed tests proved the stability of the formulation.

[0028] Moreover, the product of the present invention has been tested on grapevines, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Pomaceae plants, roses and turfs as well as on lettuce plants, and the like, to prove the astonishing preventive and, above all, curative efficacy thereof as an anti-peronospora and antimildew agent.

[0029] The results are very surprising, as only 24 hours after the treatment, the product exhibits an extraordinary curative and eradicative activity corresponding to the total, complete desiccation of the fungus, thus obtaining a 100% positive effect in all plants treated. Surprisingly, the combination of features of the composition exerts a plant growth effect, i.e., a yield increase effect unexpectedly much greater than those provided by the same crop without treatment.

[0030] A further advantage of the antifungal composition product of the present invention as formulated into a single soluble powder formulation is that it may comprise synergy between active ingredients (one inorganic and the other organic, or both organic), increased safety for operators (as it is completely non-toxic) and a lower environmental impact as there are no polluting or toxic chemicals of any kind.

[0031] Advantageously, the product subject-matter of the present invention may be used in every part of a plant to increase its vigour and the development of fruits and leaves, i.e., in all physical parts thereof, including seeds, seedlings, flowers, saplings, roots, bulbs, shanks, stems, in agriculture, in fruit-growing, in wine-growing, in horticulture, in silviculture, in aquaculture, in the open field and in greenhouses, in the nursery industry in the garden industry and in the hobby industry.

Claims

1. Antifungal composition comprising tannin extract from Castanea Sativa Miller containing polyphenols from the ellagitannin family and characterized in comprising at least one of:

- Chitosan (CAS Number 9012-76-4);

- Citric Acid (CAS Number 77-92-9);

where said composition is assigned to be used on crops infested for providing an at least anti-Peronospora and/or antimildew action.

2. Composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the Chitosan (CAS 9012-76-4) weight/weight concentration ranges from 0.01% to 80%.

3. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the Citric Acid (CAS Number 77-92-9) weight/weight concentration ranges from 0.01% to 80%.

4. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it is in one of the following forms: powder, granular, microgranular or liquid dissolved in water or in an organic solvent which may be alcohol, naphtha, a vegetable oil, a mineral oil.

5. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it can be used after dilution in water at a concentration ranging from 0.01% to 80%.

6. Composition according to any of the previous claims characterized in that it comprises at least one among inert and/or other absorbents such as zeolites, sands, clays, sepiolites, carbonates, sodium alginates, potassium and ammonium, gypsum, kaolin, diatomaceous earth flour, oyster or clam shell flour, talc, titanium oxide, aluminium silicates, mica, lithopone, white lead, starches, carbon black, vegetable or mineral coal, urea, urea formaldehyde, sugars, cellulose polymers, celites, flours obtained by grinding cereals or any part of the plant and/or comprises at least one among herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, natural or chemical synthesis biostimulants.

7. Composition according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it may include extracts of algae and alginates, extracts of basic amino acids in the L or R or racemic form, N-acetyl-L-thiazolidin-4-carboxylic acid, peptides of animal or vegetable origin, humic acids, fulvic acids, extracts from leonardite, macro nutrients and/or micro elements such as: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Sulphur, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Aluminium, Boron, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iodine and Molybdenum, in any chemical form, alone or in combination with each other and in quantities that are variable and suitable to the particular need of the plant, of the crop or ground.

8. Composition according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises at least one among:

- Non-ionic surfactants such as alkylphenols, polyoxyethylate, dioctylsulphosuccinates, alkylphenols, monoesters, polyoxyethylenated sorbitan, sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylenated fats or aryl-alkyl alcohols, fatty acids and esters of fatty acids;

- Anionic emulsifiers such as alkylsulfonates, alkyl-aryl and aryl sulphates, phosphates, amine salts of alkyl phosphates, sulphosuccinates, polycarboxylates;

- Cationic emulsifiers such as quaternary ammonium salts and primary, secondary and tertiary amine salts, amphoteric emulsifiers in their zwitterionic or mono ionic forms;

- Acidifying agents, pH regulators, antioxidants, bactericides, anti-fermenting agents.

9. Use of the composition of any of the preceding claims for the fight against the Peronosporaceae and powdery mildews on agricultural, nursery, horticultural, floral and similar crops infested by at least one of these last two pathogens.